The ongoing government shutdown has helped push confidence to near-record lows, but one segment of the population is actually feeling more optimistic.

The initial reading for the University of Michigan’s sentiment index fell to 50.3 in November from 53.6 last month, almost matching the all-time low of 50 from June 2022, when the annual rate of inflation hit its post-pandemic high.

“With the federal government shutdown dragging on for over a month, consumers are now expressing worries about potential negative consequences for the economy,” Joanne Hsu, the survey’s director, said in a statement Friday .

The decline was widespread and was seen across different age groups, income brackets, and political affiliations, she added.

But not everyone followed that trend.

“One key exception: c

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